Journalists walk out on police over blockade at Tooro palace

What the report says

Journalists covering the Tooro Kingdom’s burial and succession events on Friday walked out of a police briefing after security officers blocked them from entering the royal palace with cameras, phones and other media equipment. The Observer reported that access restrictions were tightened around the palace in Fort Portal as mourners gathered for the final vigil of the late King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukiidi IV ahead of his burial on Saturday.

According to the article, the officers at the gate did not say who ordered the ban, and palace officials also denied responsibility for it. Most journalists refused to attend the briefing outside the palace unless they could keep their devices, arguing that the equipment was necessary for reporting, taking pictures and sending live updates. Some journalists said the restrictions disrupted their ability to cover the event properly.

Reporters quoted in the story described the decision as disappointing and said concerns about security should have been handled through discussion rather than a blanket prohibition. Police spokesperson SP Kituma Rusoke said he would consult his superiors about whether journalists could be allowed in with their equipment.

The episode came as the kingdom was already facing tension over succession, after Babiito clan elders announced Prince Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma as king-elect. The dispute adds to the sensitivity of coverage around the burial and the future leadership of the kingdom.